views of that eminent
gentleman as that his (Mr. Dorrit's) daughter would be received on that footing,
which her station in life and her dowry and expectations warranted him in
requiring that she should maintain in what he trusted he might be allowed,
without the appearance of being mercenary, to call the Eye of the Great World.
While saying this, which his character as a gentleman of some little station,
and his character as a father, equally demanded of him, he would not be so
diplomatic as to conceal that the proposal remained in hopeful abeyance and
under conditional acceptance, and that he thanked Mr. Sparkler for the
compliment rendered to himself and to his family. He concluded with some further
and more general observations on the - ha - character of an independent
gentleman, and the - hum - character of a possibly too partial and admiring
parent. To sum the whole up shortly, he received Mr. Sparkler's offer very much
as he would have received three or four half-crowns from him in the days that
were gone.
    Mr. Sparkler, finding himself stunned by the words thus heaped upon his
inoffensive head, made a brief though pertinent rejoinder; the same being
neither more nor less than that he had long perceived Miss Fanny to have no
nonsense about her, and that he had no doubt of its being all right with his
Governor. At that point, the object of his affections shut him up like a box
with a spring lid, and sent him away.
    Proceeding shortly afterwards to pay his respects to the Bosom, Mr. Dorrit
was received by it with great consideration. Mrs. Merdle had heard of this
affair from Edmund. She had been surprised at first, because she had not thought
Edmund a marrying man. Society had not thought Edmund a marrying man. Still, of
course she had seen, as a woman (we women did instinctively see these things,
Mr. Dorrit!), that Edmund had been immensely captivated by Miss Dorrit, and she
had openly said that Mr. Dorrit had much to answer for in bringing so charming a
girl abroad to turn the heads of his countrymen.
    »Have I the honour to conclude, madam,« said Mr. Dorrit, »that the direction
which Mr. Sparkler's affections have taken, is - ha - approved of by you?«
    »I assure you, Mr. Dorrit,« returned the lady, »that, personally, I am
charmed.«
    That was very gratifying to Mr. Dorrit.
    »Personally,« repeated Mrs. Merdle, »charmed.«